Kolbi ICE review

Updated September 28, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Kolbi ICE is a carrier-run global eSIM for short trips, sold on local, regional and worldwide plans. It suits travelers who want one activation from a national operator, and its coverage of from 200 countries is broad for the money, with fees starting at $3.60.

Key facts

Best for
One carrier eSIM for a short trip, with local and regional options next to global ones.
Price from
$3.60↗
Price per GB from
$3.15↗
Countries covered
from 200↗
Unlimited data
Yes↗
Reference plan prices
Local 1GB 7 days USD 3.60 with code kolbi10 (regular 4); United States 1GB 7 days USD 3.60 (4); Mexico 1GB 7 days USD 4.95 (5.5); Latin America 1GB 17 countries 7 days USD 6.30 (7); Caribbean 1GB 26 countries 7 days USD 7.20 (8); Asia 2GB 18 countries 15 days USD 6.30 (7); Europe + UK unlimited 28 countries 10 days USD 25.20 (28); Asia unlimited 18 countries 10 days USD 31.50 (35)↗
Seller type
Carrier↗
Legal entity
Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad↗
Headquarters
Costa Rica↗
Founded
2009↗
Support channels
Email, Chat, Phone, Help-centre↗
Region
Local, Regional, Global
Features
Unlimited data, Instant activation
Audience
Short trips
Official website
kolbi.cr

Facts checked September 26, 2026, 3 sources

Apps and profiles

Get the app
Google Play

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Coverage of from 200 countries across local, regional and global plans
  • Unlimited data is offered, and unlimited Europe and Asia plans are listed alongside capped ones
  • Instant activation, so no waiting after you land
  • Support runs on email, chat and phone

Cons

  • Fees of $3.60 and $3.15 per GB sit well above the site medians of €5 and €1.50
  • The cheapest local plan relies on a discount code, so the listed price is a promo price
  • A carrier seller, so plans follow Kolbi's own footprint rather than a broad partner network
Kolbi ICE

Ready to try Kolbi ICE?

Scored 9.2 / 10 by NomadCue.

Who it suits

  • Short trips where one activation should cover several regions
  • Travelers leaving Costa Rica who want a national operator behind the eSIM
  • People who prefer email, chat, phone and a help centre when they need help

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone chasing the cheapest per GB deal, since $3.15 is well above €1.50
  • eSIMGo.is, if a starting fee of $0.99 matters more than carrier backing
  • SimToIsrael, for travellers focused on Israel rather than from 200 countries

Coverage and networks

Kolbi ICE sells across local, regional and global scopes, and its reach is from 200 countries, ahead of the site median of 74 and the top quartile mark of 160. The plan list shows the shape of it: a local allowance, single-country options for the United States and Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and unlimited Europe and Asia bundles. Support is available on email, chat and phone.

Where it sits among rivals

On price from, Kolbi ICE ranks 91 of 313 brands, so cheaper starting fees are common elsewhere. On price per GB it ranks 84 of 115. Both rankings sit below the midpoint of their fields, which is why the coverage and unlimited options do the selling rather than the unit price. The overall score on the site is 5.

How Kolbi ICE compares

Where Kolbi ICE is available

Available
Costa Rica

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Kolbi ICE eSIM cost?+

Fees start at $3.60 for the local plan, and the price per GB starts at $3.15. Larger bundles cost more, with the widest country lists priced highest. Both figures sit above the site medians of €5 and €1.50.

How many countries does Kolbi ICE cover?+

Coverage runs to from 200 countries, above the site median of 74. Plans are split by scope, so a Latin America or Asia bundle covers a group of countries rather than the whole list. That makes it easy to match a plan to one trip.

Is the data unlimited?+

Unlimited data is offered on some plans, and the plan list shows unlimited Europe and Asia bundles alongside capped ones. Regional packs come with a set data amount for a fixed validity instead. The cheapest local option is a capped plan, not an unlimited one.

Who runs Kolbi ICE?+

Kolbi ICE is a carrier seller, run by the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad and based in Costa Rica. It was founded in 2009. Buying from the operator itself means support comes from the network rather than a reseller.

How do I get help if the eSIM fails?+

Support runs on email, chat and phone, so there is phone and chat alongside email and a help centre. Help-desk channels are among the most common in the stay-connected category. A carrier-backed account means the same team handles both the plan and the network.

Is activation instant?+

Instant activation is listed as a feature, and that is the normal pattern for eSIMs bought and installed on a phone. You would install the profile and go live without waiting for a physical SIM. Coverage still depends on which country you land in.

What kinds of trips is this eSIM built for?+

The plan is aimed at short trips, which matches the day-limited validity on the reference plans. Regional packs give a longer window for multi-country moves. Longer stays would need a top-up or a different plan structure.

Sources

Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Hotspot sharing.

Kolbi ICE

Kolbi ICE

One carrier eSIM for a short trip, with local and regional options next to global ones.

9.2/10See alternatives